2011 Volkswagen Jetta: Performance Specs and New Photo Gallery

Following on from its world premiere at a special event at New York's Times Square in June, Volkswagen has released more details and photos of the new 2011 Jetta sedan. Designed in Germany but built at VW's plant in Mexico, the sixth generation Jetta goes on sale in the U.S. in October with prices starting at US$15,995 (€12,450 at today's exchange rates). VW said European prices will be announced when ordering begins in individual countries.

The new four-door saloon has grown in dimensions measuring 182.7 inches (4.64 meters) long, 57.1 inches (1.45 meters) tall and 70.1 inches (1.78 meters) wide, making it 3.54 inches (90mm) longer than the previous Jetta, while the styling is sharper adopting VW's new design language.

Buyers in the U.S. and Canada will have a choice of three petrol engines, a 115HP 2.0-liter four-cylinder, a 170HP 2.5-liter inline-five (if it makes you feel better, VW notes in the press release that this powerplant is derived from the Gallardo's V10...) and a 200HP 2.0-liter turbo four, plus a 140HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel.

In Europe, the Jetta will be offered with four petrol engines, all featuring turbocharging and direct-injection technology, producing between 105HP and 200HP, as well as two direct-injection turbo diesels with 105HP and 140HP. More details on performance and fuel economy figures in the press release after the jump.

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New Special Edition Fiat 500 Blackjack with Matte Finish

Fiat has announced a new limited edition version of the 500 city car, which will go on sale across Europe (including Britain) in September. Called, appropriately enough, the 500 Blackjack, the special mini is decked out in a matte black finish with glossy black details such as the door handles, exterior mirrors, fog lamp surrounds and bumper trims. The car rides on 16-inch black alloy wheels with a red frame on the center, while some variants also get red brake calipers.

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2011 Cadillac CTS gets Optional 19-inch All-Season Tires with Carbon-Fiber Sidewalls

A new 19-inch Goodyear all-season tire and wheel package that uses carbon fiber in the tire's sidewall for improved support during cornering and maneuvering is being added to the options list of the 2011 Cadillac CTS sedan and Sport Wagon.

Up until now, GM offered the 19-inch wheel package exclusively with summer tires on the CTS models. The package with the 19-inch wheels and Goodyear Eagle RS-A2 all-season tires with an asymmetric design has a suggested retail price of $850 over the standard 18-inch wheels.

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Ferrari World Abu Dhabi Unveils All Attractions as Countdown Begins

In 100 days from now, on October 28, 2010, the world's first Ferrari theme park and the largest of its kind, will open its doors and welcome the public for the very first time at Abu Dhabi's Yas Island.

The Ferrari World Abu Dhabi is located next to the futuristic Yas Marina circuit that hosted Abu Dhabi's first Grand Prix race in November 2009, and is housed under a massive triangular red roof stretching over 200,000 square meters (2.15 million square feet).

Today, the theme park's authorities released details on all 20 attractions and rides that include the record-breaking Formula Rossa roller coaster, which is capable of reaching speeds of up to 240km/h [149mph], and the G-Force tower ride that will shoot visitors 62 meters in the air before plummeting back to the ground.

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SPIED: 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class SUV

Despite the rising importance of green issues in the auto industry, carmakers continue the development of full-size SUVs / 4x4s such as the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class. Our scoop photographers snagged some of the very first pictures of the next generation Mercedes SUV while undergoing testing in Germany.

Although details are scarce, we do know that the new GL will make use of a stretched version of the next ML's platform, which is also shared with the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and the upcoming Dodge Durango. The same goes for the powertrains options that will mirror those of the new ML and include V6 and V8 engine options.

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MINI Life Ball Specials: Photo Gallery from the Vienna Gala

For the 18th annual Life Ball fundraiser for people with HIV and AIDS that took place on July 17 at Vienna's City Hall Square, MINI joined forces with celebrity fashion designers Diane von Furstenberg, Kenneth Cole and Calvin Klein Collection's Francisco Costa to create three one-off specials.

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2011 Ford Explorer's New 2.0-liter Turbo to Boost Fuel Economy over V6 by 30 Percent [Plus New Video]

About a week before Ford lifts the covers off the all-new 2011 Explorer, the company released the first details about the expected fuel economy performance of the SUV's new 2.0-liter turbocharged straight-four EcoBoost petrol engine.

Ford says the Explorer with the EcoBoost engine will get at least 30 percent better gas mileage than the existing V6-powered 2010 Explorer, without, however, releasing any specific numbers.

The current Explorer with the 210HP 4.0-liter V6 is rated at 14mpg city, 20mpg highway and 16mpg combined (4x2 model), meaning that fuel economy for the EcoBoost-powered 2011 Explorer will be better than 18.2/26/20.8 mpg respectively.

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